Rally racing and drifting are two often-compared forms of motorsport. The cars from both disciplines spend a lot of time sideways, so it’s easy to see why they are so closely related in people’s minds. But looking beyond g-forces there are plenty of differences. Surface is one of them. Drifting is a tarmac-only affair, while rally cars can alternate between pavement and dirt. Further, if a drift car catches air it’s in trouble, but rally cars are okay with a little hang time. So the suspension set-ups and tire designs are different between the two types of competition. How do they drive?

None other than Ryan Tuerck set out to answer this question. His show, Tuerck’d seen on Network A, tackled the subject in an episode entitled “Air Tuerck.” Nameless Performance had Tuerck’s drift FR-S and their own BRZ on hand which made for a most interesting comparison.

The FR-S sported a Supra swap and the rally car retained its FA20 but it was turbocharged and putting out 348 wheel horsepower. The drifter has a tight suspension with added turning angle while the rally ride has added suspension travel (9 to 10 inches worth) and a looseness to navigate potholes.

The rally car also has much more lighting, enhanced cooling, and a more complex roll cage. Watch Tuerck put both cars through their paces on pavement and gravel and then comment on the how they handle weight transfer, acceleration, and steering input differently. Not to ruin the surprise, but he does say, “a lot different than drifting, I’ll tell you that.” Let the good times roll.